A goal in either half saw off Rangers after manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst opted for a different set-up in an effort to neutralise the home side.
Rangers succumbed in Belgium without landing a punch on the hosts and now face real work in the second leg at Ibrox.
Hateley believes that the second goal in the game was coming and the Gers were lucky to only head back to Scotland two goals behind.
The former Rangers hitman was not impressed with summer signing Colak, who he feels did not demand the ball in the way that Alfredo Morelos would have.
Hateley stressed that during the game Colak was a waste of time, casting doubt on Van Bronckhorst’s decision to play him.
“You could see a second goal coming all second half. Then you worry about the third goal”, Hateley said on BBC Sportsound post match.
“Colak, for me, was a waste of time.
“If Morelos is playing there, the ball goes into him.
“Colak didn’t demand the ball.
“At the end of the day, Rangers are very, very lucky to come away with a 2-0 defeat.”
Left with a mountain to climb in the second leg, Rangers’ Champions League hopes lie in the balance but will hope home advantage plays a big role.
Rangers are next in action against Kilmarnock at Ibrox on Saturday and will play host to the Belgian runners-up three days later.
